Treatment for pilonidal disease

A pilonidal cyst may look like a small hole or dimple under the skin at the top of the crease between the buttocks.

Treatments for pilonidal cysts include:

• Incision and drainage: Your doctor will make a simple cut (incision) in the cyst. This allows the fluid to drain out of the cyst.
• Medicines and other procedures: Your doctor may treat the cyst using medicines, special tools, or small cuts. These treatments are done to try to prevent any more infections.
• Excision (surgery): Your doctor will do surgery (excision) to remove the whole cyst. This may be done if the cyst gets infected again, doesn't heal after being drained, or has more than one opening.